CD Pharmacological Tx

Chemical Dependency Pharmacotherapy

Opioid Dependency Treatment

Alcohol Dependency Treatment

Suboxone (buprenorphine) Because buprenorphine is a

partial opioid agonist, its opioid effects are limited compared with

those produced by full opioid agonists, such as oxycodone

or heroin. SUBOXONE also contains naloxone,

an opioid antagonist.

Antabuse (disulfiram) was the first pharmacological treatments

for alcohol addiction approved by the FDA. Antabuse causes

the alcohol drinker to have negative physical responses.

Depade & ReVia (naltrexone) Was approved by the FDA in 1994

for the treatment of alcoholism. The drug was originally used in treating

narcotic dependency. Naltrexone works by blocking the parts of the

brain that experience pleasure from alcohol and drug use.

Naltrexone decreases alcohol cravings.

Methadone

Methadone (Dolophine)

Campral (acamprosate) was approved by the FDA in 2004.

Campral is the first new phamacological treatment approved

for alcohol addiction in a decade. The makers of Campral claim

that the drug "restores the normal brain balance, which

has been disturbed in someone who is alcoholic"

Campral reduces the withdrawls associated with alcoholic abstinance.

Pharmacological treatments currently in trials

not yet approved by the FDA

Revex (nalmefene) Nalmefene is a newer opioid antagonist that,

like naltrexone, has no agonist activity and

no abuse potential. Additional advantages

include a longer half-life, greater bioavailability

and no dose-dependent liver toxicity.

Baclofen USP is a muscle relaxant and antispastic.

Promising alcohol withdrawal treatment

TOPAMAX® (topiramate) used for partial onset seizures, or primary

generalized tonic-clonic seizures.

-- one positive clinical trial for alcohol addiction.